The oldest UOC church in Sumy celebrated its patronal feast

Sumy celebrated the patronal feast and the 175th anniversary of the consecration of the city's oldest Elijah church. The celebrations at the oldest Orthodox community of the regional center were led by Metropolitan of Sumy and Akhtyrka Evlogiy. This was reported by the Sumy Diocese.

A special event of the feast was the bringing to the church of a venerated shrine — the wonderworking Pustynno-Glinskaya Icon of the Mother of God from the Glinskaya Hermitage.

At the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Evlogiy was co-served by the rector of the church, Archpriest Vladimir Shulga, and invited clergy. During the service, the faithful offered fervent prayers for peace in Ukraine, for the defenders of the country, and for all those in need of help and shelter.

After the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the clergy performed the rite of glorification of the holy Prophet of God Elijah and proclaimed the statutory Many Years. Concluding the celebrations, His Eminence Evlogiy congratulated the community on the anniversary and wished the faithful steadfast faith and spiritual fortitude, while the community itself invited the numerous pilgrims and guests to a festive meal.

The history of the Elijah Church, the oldest in Sumy, dates back to the first half of the 18th century. The current stone building in the Classical style was completed and consecrated in 1851 thanks to donations from the merchant and church warden Stepan Tikhonov. The wooden church that had previously stood on this site burned down completely during the large city fire of 1839.

The Elijah parish has for decades remained an important center of mercy: for more than 20 years, free hot meals have been prepared here daily for those in need. Orthodox volunteers deliver food to the homes of the sick and elderly, and also regularly distribute food and clothing among the poor residents of the city.

As the UOJ reported, a Ukrainian monastery in Romania celebrated its patronal feast.